One-piece nail-receiving beam



Feb. 23, 1954 MCMAHON ET AL 2,670,061

ONE-PIECE NAIL-RECEIVING BEAM Filed March 18. 1948 IIIIIIIIII I;

IIIIIIIIIIII' IN V EN TOR. Jail/V I? M C MA HON.

BY EAZ/LE l7. A7'l/L/PPE.

I M/ ATTORNEY- Patented Feb. 23, 1954 ONE -PIECE N AIL-RECEIVING BEAM John P. McMahon, Huntington Woods, and Bazile A. Latulippe, Ferndale, Mich., assignors to National Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application March 18, 1948, Serial No. 15,688

The present invention relates to metal beams formed from a single sheet of metal, relating more particularly to such beams constructed to receive and retain a nail or an equivalent fastening element.

It is evident that metal beams must be adapted to receive and retain nails, or the like, readily and effectively in order to replace traditional Wooden structural members. However, such metal beams must be rigid, strong and inexpensive if they are to be of any practical use. One type of metal beam previously suggested consisted of two channel-shaped members ar ranged in back to back relation with their webs spaced apart. A unitary structural member having a pair of spaced webs terminating in side flanges has also been suggested. Both types of beams, it will be noted, possess double webs spaced apart to present a nail-receiving space or enclosure. Such nail-receiving means have not been too successful, chiefly because they have complicated the beams structure excessively making it expensive and impracticable; or they have weakened or interfered with the operation of the beam for supporting exterior loads; or the nail-receiving means has become distorted or has failed under conditions of use.

It is, therefore, one object of the invention to provide an uncomplicated and inexpensive metal beam structure readily fabricated from a single sheet of metal by employing comparatively simple rolling or other suitable metal forming operations and apparatus, and in which the free edge portions of the sheet are folded together in locked relation to provide a unified and rigid structure and are maintained in that relation under conditions of use.

It is another object of the invention to provide a unitary metal beam structure including improved means for maintaining the webs in spaced relation without interfering with the nail-receiving properties of the beam, such spacing means not only assisting in causing the webs to act together for supporting exterior loads but providing an undistorted nail-receiving space.

Other objects and advantages of the invention are, in part, obvious and will, in part, appear from the following specification and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a portion of an I-beam embodying one form of the present invention; Y r

3 Claims. 01. 189-37) Figure 2 is another perspective view illustrating a modification of the invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion ofa T-beam embodying another form of the inven-' tion; and, Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of still an-' other form of the invention.

In one of its broader aspects, the present invention pertains to a metal beam formed from a single sheet of metal having its free edge portions folded together. The beam possesses web portions spaced from each other to provide nailreceiving means. Side flanges extend from the web portions and are interconnected by suitable connecting means such as an outer cover member.

The cover members, or the web portions adjacent thereto, are provided with spacing means maintaining the webs in their spaced relationship While preserving the aforementioned folded relation of the sheets edge portions. Somewhat more specifically, the invention pertains to a metal beam of the foregoing general character in which the free edge portions of the metal sheet constitute the free edge portion of one cover member and of one side flange, the former being webs l0 and I l which are spaced from each other transversely of the beam and which are substantially parallel. Accordingly, a groove or enclosure 2! is provided between the webs l0 and H for receiving nails or equivalent fastening elements in the manner explained in detail hereinafter. A longitudinally extending side flange projects outwardly from each marginal edge portion of both webs l0 and H so that four such side flanges I2, l3, l4 and 15 are presented. The flanges l2 and I3 comprise a set or pair of flanges located at one extremity of the beam and are oppositely extended and substantially coplanar, as are the flanges l4 and i5 which comprise an other set or pair of flanges located at the other extremity of the beam. The beam illustrated in Figure 1 is formed from a single strip or sheet of metal so that the flanges l2, l3, l4 and iii are integral with their associated webs ID or H and are turned outwardly therefrom at substantially a right angle.

The reference numerals l6 and I! designate cover members or connecting pieces. One of the cover members overlies each pair of flanges in contact with the outer surface thereof, the cover strip l? being associated, with the flanges l2 and I3 and thefcoyer strip I! being associated with the flanges I4 and [5. The cover members l6 and I7 comprise reversely bent portions of the metal sheet which is doubled back in supporting relation over the flanges l2 and I3, and I4 and I5 respectively. The lateral edges of the flanges l4 and I5 are coextensive withand adjoining to the corresponding lateral edges of the cover 11, and such adjoining lateral edges are integrally connected together as a result of doubling back the metal sheet.

The lateral edge of the flange [3 is coextensive with and adjoining to oneglateral edge of the cover member 6 and is integrally connected therewith; but the "other lateral edge of the cover 16,, shown at 1?. .andt e at a e g effih'e. an e b pr i'se the free edges of hemem strip -from which the beam was formed. In order to provide a unitary beam structure, the lateral edge portion Petr the cover [6 enfoldst'heilateral edge portion ofjhe flan e 12. Preferably, 'the edge portion [8firstbentjintoftlieplaiie er the Weiss :0 and I"! and thereafter is bent generally right angularl'y inwardly toward the web l'fl, terminating inwardly of 'the "lateral extremity of "the flange 7 Thus, the edge pardo l8 ofthe cover [6 embraces the'edgeportion cf the flange 12 and fn l ed i i 'st t att n. c

Eachjofthejcqvers l'fi and I! is provided with a continuous 'depression shown at It and "2t, eachjsuch f depression having 'walls contacting bojthjoffthe inner ,surfacesfof the webs 0 and H adjacent theside flanges, the depression '[9 being agdjaent the flanges Hand, l3 while the depressionfzfltis adjacent the flanges '14 and i5. Thus jtlie depressions l9 and 20 project into the rial receivinggrbo've orenclosure 'ZI to a limited extent, The depressions IQ 'and'2'iJ are'inedia1ly disposed, prefer'ably extending down the longitiidinal axis of the beam and being centrally located from side to side. V I

The'referenc'e numerals, Z2 and 23 designate laterally extending, l ibtiiberances formed by bends 'in the webs i8 farid 'l I, which protuberarises extend longitudinally throughout the length'ofthe'beain, These protuber'ancescornprise "a complementary or'rn ating pair an d are substantially icurivilinearly parallel. Therefore, they provide a transv'erse'offset in the nail receivinggro'ove or enclosure 2|. However, due to theistructure and arrangement of the protuberancesgth'e offsetin the enclosure 2| is of substantially the same width as the remaining portionsofthe enclosure.

In Figure 2 there is illustrated a modifrcation of theiiny'ention which is similar to the embodimerit thereot'shown. in Figure Accordingly,

likereferencefnumeralsfhave been used todesign'ate corresponding elements in the structures shown i'n 'Figures l 'and 2. The chief difference between these'structures'res'ides in the width or height "of the webs I'O and H, the structure of Figure 1 4 having a shortened -web "structure and comprising 'a sic-called narrow beam sometimes employed as a' st'ud. Dueto the relatively'great width or height ofth'e websln and u 'inthe structure Iiof jFig'ure 2 an additional set of curvilinearly" parauei protuberances 24' aria 254s} 4 provided. Therefore the modification of Figure 2 possesses two pairs of the latter, each pair consisting of mating complementary protuberances, providing an ofiset or bend in the nail-receiving groove or enclosure 2|.

The modification of the invention particularly illustrated in Figure 3 consists of a T-beam or half stud. This form of the invent-ion possesses a pair of transversely spaced web or leg members 26 and 21 which are generally similar to the webs I0 and ll, It will be noted that a pair of mating curvilinearly parallel protuberances 22 and 23 is provided in the web members 26 and 21 presenting an offset in the nail-receiving groove or enclosure 2| in the manner previously mentioned herein. However, the groove or enclosure 21 is closed at one side of the beam by a reverse bend '28 which is integral with and interconnec'ts corresponding coextensive edge portions of the web members 26 and 21.

The structure of the side flanges and cover members of the form of the invention shown in Figure 3 is like that of the corresponding members of the forms illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; but only one pair of flanges l2 and i3 is provided so that only one cover member iBis needed. This cover member I6 is folded about the lateral edge of the flange l2,at 18, in the way explained in detail hereinbefore and a depression I9 -is provided which projects into the space -2l adjacent the side flanges l2 and 13. 7

Another T-beam or half stud is illustrated in Figure 4. This form of the invention --resembles the form thereof illustrated in Figure 3, so that like reference numerals have been used to depict corresponding elements in Figures 3 and 4. The form'of the invention shown in Figure 4 differs in that no depression 19 is provided in the cover member 16. The cover member I6 is, therefore,'substantiallyplanarextending across the nail receiving groove or enclosure 2| in contact with the flanges +2 and l3. The referencenumeral-Zflfiesignates one'of a'plurality of lateral projections "or bosses integral with-and extending inwardly from the web member 23. The -bosses-29"are spaced atintervals down the length of the-beam=preferably,'-but-not necessarily-being aligned. Each boss-29 normally contacts the inner surface of the 'web 25 but is unattached thereto. The'bosses-"marepreferably located as'closely-adjacent the'cover 1'6 as practicable. The bosses "29 are dimensioned so as to space the 'webs'22' and- 23 from eachother to the proper extent for providing an-effective nail-receiving groove or enclosure =2 l While -we have illustrated and'de'scribed the bosses 29 as extending from the web member 23, it will be understood that they 'ni-ay extend I from eitherof the web-'members 2? or "23 and they contact 'the innersurfa'ce'of the web member other than the 'one from which they extend. The bosses do not necessarily have "to -be-circular in cross section; they maybe somewhat elongated, for instance. ='Also,'the b'oss ari'ang ement just describedplus the 'use'of 'acov'er'm'emb'er without-a depression l9*or 20, maybe utilized for an I-shapedbeam of the type-shown in Figures 1 and 2; andtheir-use in'this'connectionis considered evident in view-of -the foregoing description. In this regard,- it-w-ill-beobserved-that the construction of the cover-member it as well as the construction of -the portion-of-the web members adjacent thereto -are practieally identical for the T-shapedand-I-shapedbeams :illustrated and discussed herein.

It will be noted, in addition, that the bosses 29 and the depressions I9 and 20 extend from the inner wall of one web of a pair of spaced webs into engagement with the inner wall of the other web of the pair, and thus comprise spacing members for maintaining the webs in their spaced relation. Such spacing members also serve to maintain the folded relation between the flange l2 and the enfolding portion E8 of the cover it, as more fully pointed out hereinafter.

A nail is received by and is retained within the beams of the present invention by being driven through a cover member if; or I! into the nail-receiving groove 2!. The depression H; or 28 assists in guiding and centering the nail. The nail is continuously bent or deformed as it passes through an offset in the groove 2i, such as that provided by the protuberances 22 and 23, until the forward portion of the nail is bent or bowed laterally of the beam and is confined between the webs, being held in place as a result. It will be appreciated that the nail must be continuously bent in order to be straightened out if it is to be withdrawn from the beam which requires considerable force. Thus the nail is firmly held in the beam. In connection with driving a nail through the cover member I6 01' II, it is preferable to utilize a depression l9 or 28 which is provided with a thinned-out bottom portion in the manner disclosed and claimed in an application Serial No. 30,596 of Charles B. Gorey, Jr., entitled Nail-Receiving Beams, filed June 2, 1948, and assigned to applicants assignee. The use of this structural feature makes it easier to employ a metal sheet of sunicient thickness to provide a strong beam while ensuring that the cover member will be readily puncturable by a nail or the like.

The depressions l9 and 2t serve to hold the webs it and H apart in the I-shaped beams, yet the nail-receiving groove 2! is unobstructed. Thus, under loading, the webs cannot come together or approach each other too closely which would distort the nail-receiving groove. In the T-shaped beams, the reverse bend 28 serves as a spacing means for the web members 26 and 21 at one side of the beam, while the depression i9 so functions at the other side thereof for the form of the invention shown in Figure 3, and the bosses 29 do so for the form shown in Figure 4.

The depression l9 and the bosses 29 serve an additional purpose, however. One or the other of these elements holds the flange I2 in its enfolded position when the beam is subjected to stresses such as those resulting from exterior loading or from nails driven between the webs. In fact the depression is or bosses 29 urge the free edge of the flange l2 in the direction of the embracing fold it of the cover member [6. In beams formed from a single sheet of metal suggested heretofore, such stresses tended to open the seam between the free edges of the metal sheet formed into the beam. In applicants beam, the action of the depression H! or bosses 29 in urging the flange l2 outwardly jams or forces the flange free edge into the embracing fold, shown at l8, of the cover member l6. Due to the enfolding of the edge of the flange l2 so that its lateral extremity is encompassed, such urging of the flange tightens the seam and more securely holds the edge portions of the beam-forming metal sheet together.

We claim:

1. A beam formed from a single piece of sheet metal comprising a pair. of spaced webv portions presenting a nail-receiving groove therebetween and having juxtaposed marginal edge portions, nail-deforming'means forming a part of the Web portions for bending a nail received in the nailreceiving groove, one of a pair of side flanges extending from each of the juxtaposed marginal edge portions at eachv end of the .web portions forming a generally I-beam, a cover member overlying each pair of the flanges, the flanges and the cover'members being formed respectively by angular and reverse bend doubling the sheet metal upon itself in supporting relation with one of the cover members and an adjacent flange terminating in the free edge portions of the sheet metal, the free edge portion of the cover member being folded over and embracing the-free .edge portion of the adjacent flange,-and a-medial longitudinal depression in each of the cover members projecting into the space between the portions in contact with the web portions.

2. An I-beam constructed from a single piece of sheet metal and comprising a pair of beam sections each having a web portion and marginal side flanges, the beam sections being disposedwith the web portions in spaced, parallel back-toback relation and presenting a space between the web portions dimensioned to provide a nailreeeiving groove, laterally extending complementary protuberances in the web portions providing nail-deforming means, the flanges being arranged in pairs with the flanges of each pair of coplanar and extending laterally from the opposite sides of the nail-receiving groove, a connecting piece overlying the outer surface of each pair of flanges and extending across the nail receiving groove, the edge portion of one of the connecting pieces comprising one edge of the sheet metal and the outer lateral edge of the flange adjacent the edge portion of the one connecting piece comprising the other edge of the sheet metal, the edge portion of the one connecting piece being folded around the outer lateral edge of the adjacent flange providing a unitary beam structure, each of the remaining lateral edge portions of the connecting pieces being integrally connected to a lateral edge portion of one of the flanges, and a medially-positioned continuous longitudinal depression in each connecting piece, the walls of each depression projecting into the nail-receiving groove in contact with both of the web portions adjacent the flanges maintaining the spaced relationship of the web portions and the folded relationship of the one connecting piece and the adjacent flange.

3. An I-bearn constructed from a single piece of sheet metal and comprising a pair of beam sections each including a web portion and marginal side flanges, the beam sections being disposed with the web portions in spaced, parallel back-toback relation presenting a nail-receiving groove therebetween, transversely extending rounded protuberances in the web portions arranged in substantially curvilinearly parallel pairs presenting nail-deforming offsets in the nail-receiving groove, the side flanges being arranged in pairs with the flanges of each pair being coplanar and extending laterally from 0pposite sides of the nail receiving groove, a first connecting piece overlying one pair of flanges and integrally joined to the outer lateral edges of the one pair of flanges, a second connecting piece overlying the other pair of flanges, one edge of the second connecting piece integrally joined to the outer lateral edge of one of the flanges, 

